The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

(Established 1960)

Status

An autonomous body, located within UNESCO.

Mission

The purpose of the Commission is to promote scientific investigation with a view to learning more about the nature and resources of the oceans through the concerted action of its members.

Activities

IOC Programmes

These are grouped into two areas, Ocean Science and Ocean Services.

1. Ocean Science

The IOC provides a focus for the inter-governmental aspects of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) and probably the new CLIVAR programme.

Ocean Science in Relation to Living Resources (OSLR), and Ocean Science in Relation to Non–Living Resources (OSNLR), have an overall aim to improve our understanding of the relationships between processes and conditions in the marine environment, and the availability of resources. A programme on Harmful Algal Blooms is beginning. OSNLR interests include coastal erosion and the scientific basis for identifying phosphate deposits, and continental margin mineral deposits.

Pollution in the Marine Environment

With UNEP and other agencies, includes the Global Investigation of Pollution in the Marine Environment (GIPME).

Ocean Mapping

The United Kingdom's Natural Environment Research Council is providing resources for updating the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) and the digitisation of its contours. There are strong links with the International Hydrographic Organisation.

2. Ocean Services

Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)

This is a fast-growing IOC initiative (now with UNEP and WMO), in response to recommendations of the IPCC and the Second World Climate Conference. GOOS will provide the ocean component of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) coordinated from the WMO in Geneva. Many pre-existing IOC programmes will contribute to GOOS, which will be based on a sound scientific design.

Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS) (jointly with WMO)

Observations are transmitted through the WMO-GTS system with emphasis on temperature and salinity data in near-real time for operational purposes.

Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS)

Develops an observing network to serve scientific programmes such as WOCE and IGBP, and to identify long-term trends in global sea level, perhaps as an early indication of global warming. The United Kingdom initiated GLOSS jointly with the United States of America and now leads the programme.

International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE)

Establishes procedures for data exchange and processing. IODE also circulates an active programme on Marine Information Management (MIM) which the UK leads.

Training, Education and Mutual Assistance in Marine Sciences (TEMA)

Some UNESCO money is used for establishing infrastructure in developing countries. IOC also acts as an agent for UNEP programmes and for national aid agencies, notably from Germany, Scandinavia and Japan.

3. Other Services

Drifting Buoy Cooperation Panel (IOC and WMO); International Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific (ITSU). In the 1980’s regional subsidiary bodies of the IOC developed, notably in the Caribbean and the Western Pacific; there are also regional bodies for the Indian Ocean and the Eastern Central Atlantic.

Structure within UNESCO

The Secretary, IOC, is appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO after consultation. UNESCO provides half of the Professional Staff to IOC and an annual operating budget. Contributions are received from member States including the United Kingdom.

There are 129 Member States of the IOC. A full Assembly is held every two years in Paris. The Executive Council, of which the United Kingdom is an elected member, consists of 36 members plus the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the IOC. This Council meets annually.

The Secretary of IOC is also Secretary of ICSPRO, the Inter-Secretariat Committee on Scientific Programmes Relating to Oceanography, across UN agencies. Other agencies involved in ICSPRO are IMO, FAO, WMO, the UN, the IAEA and UNEP.

Present IOC Priorities

Member States are now reluctant to start new programmes until existing programmes are effective. The major priority at present is development of the inter-governmental aspects of climate change studies and, in particular, the planning of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). Other activities, such as IODE and GLOSS, benefit from this overall priority. There is also a strong lobby for coastal studies and pollution related programmes. Implementation of UNCED and UNCLOS are of growing importance to the IOC programmes.

United Kingdom Interests

Real progress is being made on many fronts, but the UNESCO bureaucratic procedures are inhibiting the sort of growth which a new ocean-exploitation regime will require. The Secretariat is pitifully small and under resourced. In many countries coordination of marine interests is not as well developed as in the United Kingdom. Inevitably the significance of IOC programmes in these countries is not fully appreciated.

Lead Department

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), UK IOC Office, c/o National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH.
Contact: Dr Trevor Guymer
Tel: +44 (0) 23 8059 6789  Email: iacmst@noc.soton.ac.uk

Other Interested Departments and Organisations

David Stanton, UK Ambassador to UNESCO, 1 rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cedex 15, France
Telephone: (1) 45 68 27 84  Fax: (1) 47 83 27 77  Email: DL-Stanton@dfid.gov.uk

Department for International Development, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE. (Contact: UNESCO Desk).
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7023 0000  Fax: +44 (0) 20 7023 0016

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (CEFAS), Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE.

The Ministry of Defence, UK Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Taunton, TA1 2DN.

Briefing and Reporting Mechanisms

Responsibility for providing United Kingdom representation has been delegated to NERC. Formal scientific briefing for United Kingdom delegates is through the IACMST International Sub-Committee. The Delegation also receives direct advice from interested Government Departments, academic and other sources.

Perspective

Traditionally the United Kingdom has given priority to the service activities of IOC, preferring to use NGO mechanisms or scientific coordination. However, many countries (e.g. China, Russia, India and South American) find it easier to cooperate through inter-governmental mechanisms. The United Kingdom recognises this, and supports the establishment of inter-governmental boards (e.g. WOCE) where necessary. Overall the United Kingdom interest is centred on a progressive development of underpinning facilities for ocean study and exploitation. Establishment of calibration standards, analysis procedures, databanks and exchange facilities are key factors. The United Kingdom favours strong coordination across UN agencies (and others, such as IHO), and encourages the ICSPRO responsibilities of the IOC, and its role as secretariat of the ACC Sub-Committee for coordinating marine aspects of sustainable development, under the CSD.